Page 80 - Read Online

Hu et al. Carbon Footprints 2024;3:16 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/cf.2024.28 Page 13 of 16

Table 5. Accounting for other policy analyses for the impact of industrial park construction on city carbon emissions
ETDZ EIDP LCIP
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
TREAT -1.1545*** -0.0781*** -0.3949*** -0.3949*** -0.4504*** -0.4504***
(0.0576) (0.0149) (0.0450) (0.0450) (0.0499) (0.0499)
Low carbon city pilot policy -1.0764*** -0.7596*** -1.1545***
(0.05282) (0.0193) (0.0576)
Constant 2.2756*** 2.3466*** 1.5870*** 2.3466*** 1.6425*** 2.7970***
(0.1784) (0.1784) (0.1945) (0.1784) (0.1863) (0.1526)
N 4,284 4,284 4,284 4,284 4,284 4,284
CONTROL Y Y Y Y Y Y
City fixed effects Y Y Y Y Y Y
Time fixed effects Y Y Y Y Y Y
2
R 0.4986 0.4986 0.4986 0.4986 0.4986 0.4986
***P < 0.01. The values in parentheses are standard errors. Columns (1), (3), and (5) show the results without the introduction of the low-carbon
city pilot policy variable, while columns (2), (4), and (6) show the results with the new variable.

DISCUSSION
This study investigated the effects of three different national-level industrial park policies on urban carbon
emissions in China: Economic and Technological Development Zones (ETDZs), Eco-Industrial
Demonstration Parks (EIDPs), and Low-Carbon Industrial Parks (LCIPs). The role of industrial structure in
the emission change process and the spatial spillover effects of industrial parks on neighboring cities were
also explored. Different types of industrial parks appear to exhibit varying degrees of effectiveness in
reducing city carbon emissions, depending on the policy focuses, geographical locations, and city resource
conditions.

First, ETDZs showed the strongest impact on reducing carbon emissions, particularly in more developed
areas. This is likely due to the focus on attracting high-tech industries, promoting innovation, and industrial
upgrading, which improve energy efficiency. However, the reduction effects would not manifest until a lag
of around 7 years. For High-Tech Industrial Development Zones (HTIDZs) located in the economically
developed eastern coastal areas, they exhibit stronger carbon emission control capabilities thanks to better
infrastructure, stronger policy support, and more concentrated technological and financial resources. The
rapid development of the zones, coupled with their higher degree of openness to foreign investment, brings
about an advantage in curbing carbon emissions compared to their counterparts in less developed regions.
Therefore, this study suggests that more incentives for green technology investment and industrial
upgrading be provided, especially in central and western regions, so as to raise the level of carbon reduction
outcomes.

Second, EIDPs achieved significant emission reductions by promoting cleaner production and industrial
symbiosis, with effects visible within 3 years. These parks improve resource efficiency and waste utilization,
leading to lower carbon emissions. Therefore, expanding the EIDP model, particularly in regions dominated
by heavy industry, may help promote resource-sharing and circular economy practices and thus potentially
reduce carbon emissions.

Third, although LCIPs aim to reduce emissions by deploying low-carbon technologies, their effects were not
significant during the study period, likely due to the recent establishment and a need for more time to
exhibit visible impacts. Hence, long-term support and financial incentives would be needed to promote low-
carbon technologies.